The Mekong mainstream dams’ impacts on fisheries will have significant costs on people’s food security, nutrition and health. Between half and four-fifths of the animal protein consumed by the 60 million people in the lower Mekong Basin come from the river’s fisheries.

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The revival of plans to build a series of dams on the Mekong River presents a serious threat to the river's ecology and puts at risk the wellbeing of millions of people dependent on the river for food, income, transportation and a multitude of other needs.

China's dam construction on the Upper Mekong River has already caused downstream impacts, especially along the Thai-Lao border where communities have suffered declining fisheries and changing water levels that have seriously affected their livelihoods. By changing the river's hydrology, blocking fish migration and affecting the river's ecology, the construction of dams on the Lower Mekong mainstream will have repercussions throughout the entire basin.

International Rivers is working to keep the Lower Mekong River's mainstream flowing freely. Donate now to help protect the river from dams that harm the environment.